Hundreds of locals flocked to Walsh Field on Friday night for the fourth annual Scott Macdonald Memorial Game, which saw the Bonnyville Voyageurs lose 35-3 to the Lloydminster Barons under the lights.
The Bonnyville Bandits also lost 35-30, playing a close hard fought game against the Lloydminster Mustangs.
For most of those in attendance the score was secondary on this particular night. The main goal of the event, named after Scott Macdonald, a local football player who lost his battle with cancer, was to raise funds for cancer research.
The event has grown over the years and raised over $10,000 last year.
“It's absolutely amazing,” said Scott Macdonald's father, Bernie Macdonald, who participated in the pregame coin flip. “I think Scott would be proud. This event gets bigger and bigger every year.”
“I don't think we ever expected it to get this big. So far, every year the weather has been cooperative. It's been nice to see the town of Bonnyville and surrounding areas support.”
Organizers raised funds through a concession, a silent auction, and a fifty-fifty draw. This year though, they also came up with a few other interesting ways to raise money.
Ducharme Motors sold tickets for the opportunity to kick a fifty-yard field goal to win a brand new 2013 Ford F-150 truck, while coaches and players of both Bonnyville teams let residents pay to pie them in the face.
The exact amount of money raised at the event was unknown as of press time, but the fifty-fifty draw did see a lucky fan go home with $2,200.
The funds from this year's will stay local, with 80 per cent of profits going to the cancer ward at the Bonnyville Health Center and the other 20 per cent going into the Scott Macdonald football scholarship fund.
“I think Scott would be proud to see this happening,” said Bernie Macdonald. “It is unfortunate that he is not here to see it, but the family is totally ecstatic about (the event).”
“I would just like to give my thanks to the folks who do organize this event. I don't have a whole lot to do with it.”
Both the players and coaches on the four teams involved in the event seemed excited to be a part of something that gets the community together for a good cause.
“We love it. We want this event to grow and that is why we keep putting more and more into it. The more people we can get out, the better,” said Bandits head coach Dan Jubinville.
“The parents are the ones that do the majority of the work to set the field up and get this organized, so hats off to them,” said Voyageurs head coach Larry Godziuk. “They have a vision for what they want the evening to be like and it grows a little bit every year. It is nice to be a part of.”
Bandits lose in final minute
The Bonnyville Bandits and Lloydminster Mustangs kicked off the evening playing a close, back-and-forth football game with the Mustangs coming out on top 35-30.
The Bandits started fast with Reid Skripchayko busting out a pair lengthy rushing touchdowns early in the first quarter giving Bonnyville the 14-0 lead.
Lloydminster didn't let the slow start faze them, scoring three unanswered touchdowns to lead 21-14 at half time.
The teams played a hard fought second half with the Bandits leading 30-28 going into the final minute of the play. Unfortunately Bonnyville was unable to get a first down and turned the ball over late in the fourth quarter.
Lloydminster capitalized on the opportunity and scored the game-winning touchdown with 26 second left, en route to a five-point victory.
“The boys played hard. It was not the outcome we wanted, but we didn't dig deep enough on the last play to get it out to a first down and run the clock out,” said Jubinville. “It was anybody's game and they did all they could right up until the end.”
Voyageurs still winless
The second game of the double-header and the night's main event saw the Bonnyville Voyageurs lose 35-3 to the Lloydminster Barons.
“It is very exciting for them. A lot of them are very nervous, especially our grade 10s,” said Godziuk. “It is one of the bigger crowds they will ever see, at night, under the lights. It is hard for them, but I thought they did well.”
The Voyageurs got off to a good start forcing and recovering two fumbles in the first four minutes of the game. Unfortunately Bonnyville was unable to capitalize on the Barons mistakes.
Lloydminster then jumped out to a lead and never looked back.
Godziuk wasn't too happy with how the second half of the game was played, as several Voyageurs players suffered injuries and were unable to finish the game.
“I was not entirely happy with the physicality that they showed. They took an objectionable conduct penalty, they took five face masking penalties, they took a roughing the kicker penalty, it just never seemed to end,” said Godziuk.
“We came out to play a tough football game and a straight up football game and it is tough to compete when you are not playing by the same set of rules.”
Once Lloydminster got out a big lead the Voyageurs started to give some of their inexperienced players some playing time.
“We are seeing lots of improvement. The score certainly isn't complementary in our favour but we are working hard and we are learning and we are getting better every week,” said Godziuk.
